The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-20

breed, Washington Bulbonais, section o.
land, to te selected wherever he might
choose, in the new territory acquired by the
last treaty, north Of the Illinois and east Of
the Mississippi river, in northern Illinois
He selected an unsurveyed tract, aiming "a
} include the Mission property; but the center
stake was set so far east that the 40 acres
brok en- in 1922, which he most desired, wa'
left out, aud il was subsequently, entered by
Schemerhorn and bought from him by Haz
Teton. who bu. house upon it,and 1t eventu'
ally became the homestead Of Mr.. and Mrs
J. s. Armstrong, as previously stated.
H,zLgroSs TRAGIC DEATH.
During the Indian war, probably June "a,
1892, and after the massacre on Indian
Creek, a company of soldiers from the fort
at Ottawa marched up towards Mission Point
Hazleton and Schemerhorn, who had pre-.
yiously fled to the fort, followed behind the
soldiers in two-horse wagon to bring away
their household effects. They were accom-
panied by a soldier on horseback. Just as
they reached the timber on the Chicago road,
known rs Dunavan's Point, and mile in the
rear of the troops, they discovered small
band Of Indians emerging from thicket
near wheat field near aud in front. They
turned TO hy to Ottawa. The Indians threw
their spears at the party, but no one was
hurt. Capt. Arnett, the soldier, advised the
men in the wagon to Gu, the traces and mount
their horses, hut his plan was UNDECIDED. He
escaped without injury, though spears and
arrows flew thick and fast for moment.
The Indians had guns, but did not use them
evidently for fear Of attracting the soldiers.
The two men then appeared to have sought
safety by flight in the woods. They were
where the Indians first encountered them,
killed scalped and mu,ilated in q most hor
ribe manner. This band Of red marauders
seem to have been the same that on the same
day crossed Fox river and killed Barrisford
and wounded Capt. McFadden at Buck
Creek.
| SOCIAL, PUBLIC AND POLITICAL LILLE.
Mr. Armstrong has served his town as a
member Of the Board Of Supervisors, and
also early in the history Of thu Grange soci-
cites became prominent member and officer
of that powerful organization. He was at
one time treasurer Of the State Grange and
one year handled $4,000 of their money.
lie has been delegate from this state to the
United States Grand Conventions or Grand
Lodges as follows: At St. Louis, Nov, 1874
Charleston. s. c., Feb. 3, 1875; Louisville,
Ky, Nov. II, 1876; Chicago, 1876 Cincin.
natl, 1877; Richmond, Va, 1885, Cananda-
qua, 1875 Washington, d. c., 1880 and 81 !;
indianapolis, 1882 Washington, D. c., 1888;
Nashville, Tenn, 1884; Boston, 1885; Phila-
delphia, 1886. lie has diploma, dated
Dec. 8, 1886, as member of the degree of
Flora, and the Grand Lodge voted him the
sth place on the list--the highest compli
ment that any one could have under the
seven grand officers who were the founders
of that organic uion.
Mr.. Armstrong has been identified with
the greenback party ever since 1t was Great
ed. No member of that political organiza
ton has spent more time or money, or been
more sincere and faithful than he. He has
published essays, tracts, illustrations and ar.
gumenis enough to make respectable book
in the advocacy Of the peculiar tenets of that
creed; and that he has repeatedly refused
honors in the way Of nominations for Offices
of all degrees, by his party, proves his unset.
fish devotion to his principles.
He FIGHTS THE RAILROADS.
One Of the most conspicuous feathers in
his cap,-to change the figure, the most val
liable service he has rendered the people,
was the fight which he organized single.
handed aud alone against the rapacious
greed Of the railroads Of this state. A COR
rupt legislature, some years ago. passed
law which WAS 80 construed and adroitly
used by shapers as to saddle railroad bonds
upon every county in this state whose peo.
pie had not voluntarily gone in debt to build
railroads After the villainous tax had been
collected, he set to work against the discour
agement Of. lawyers and railroad agents.
against the ring organised to swindle the
people, to defeat their schemes. He applied
for an injunction to restrain the State Treas
urer from paying out this money. His bond
was signed by sixteen leading citizens Of
this county, The case went through to the
Supreme Court of this state. and thence to
the Supreme Court Of the United States, and
notwithstanding railroad money procured to
fight him the ablest attorneys in the land, he
beat them, and the money had to be and was
refunded Eighty.siK counties in this state
were caught in this net to the amount Of
SIG, S00.027, most Of it drawing 10 per cent
interest. The railroad companies got this
sum into bonds against the victimized coun.
ties and sold them for iron, ties and mater
ials with which to build their roads, thus
=